Day One

DAY ONE

shawna ray

Yesterday went from bad to worse
The toilet clogged and the squad was called
Talked to my family, we played a game
Of touched you last with hurtful words

Am I hard to love or is it just
Enough is enough?
Do I self destruct? Or is it just
Some things need cooled off?
I'm sending out a dove to find new love

Starting from - day one
Day one

Seeing things more clearly now
The rain is gone, rainbow appears
On my own and steering clear of
People always speaking fears

Am I push and shove or is it just
that I'm not going down?
Do I suck at love? Or is it just
that I have learned the difference
I'm sending out a song to move along 

Starting from - day one
Day one

Where do I want to go from here?
What footprints do I leave and follow?
What if I have to part with
Friends and family I knew before?

Am I hard to like or is it just
that I want more in life?
Do I think I'm smart? Or is it just
that I've been playing stupid
Sending out the dove to find new love

Starting from - day one
Day one

Doing my best to overcome
Looking out at a great big ocean
Finding a way to build back up
All it takes is a mustard seed to move a mountain, move the mountain,

"Move that bus!"lol
Starting from - day one

Day one

As You Are

A recent conversation...
lyrics by shawna ray

"There will always be
a place for you in my arms."
No matter where you roam,
I hope that you know
I'll be waiting here
To love you as you are

Don't know if I can believe the word always
I've loved before and it hurt when that all changed
I sit and wait for "the one" who will get me
Around the ring in a fight with my feelings

Hear you say...

"There will always be 

a place for you in my arms."
No matter where you roam,
I hope that you know
I'll be waiting here 

To love you as you are

You want to help and be a true partner

Sometimes I see us letting love go there

Just understand it will be a slow roll up

You have been steady and wont give up on us

"There will always be 

a place for you in my arms."
No matter where you roam,
I hope that you know
I'll be waiting here 

To love you as you are

As you are someone that I love
Easy how you just make me laugh
As you are someone that I trust
But friend is all I have to give right now

"There will always be 

a place for you in my arms."
No matter where you roam,
I hope that you know
I'll be waiting here 

To love you as you are

As you are someone that I love

shawna ray today, 3/18/12
Can someone become "the one" or is "the one" not just someone?

If you have an answer to that question, email rhythmray@live.com

www.shawnaray.com

Unstoppable

For Sophia and all of my Goodwill and IPSC friends...

What is handicapped?
You are not defined by what you lack
Focus on your strengths
You are capable of so many things
For you see beyond your vision
You move beyond your legs
You learn with a new wisdom
Knowing you are perfectly made
To be unstoppable
You are unstoppable
What is a disease?
You are not the injury
What is poverty?
Merely a starting place
For you rise above the challenge
You reach beyond your means
You teach the world to balance
Knowing you are perfectly made
To be unstoppable
You are unstoppable
Your smile is energizing
Your courage is inspiring
Your love is pure refreshing
I melt when you hug me
I can see beyond my vision
I can move beyond my legs
I learn with a new wisdom
Knowing we are perfectly made
To be unstoppable
You are unstoppable
You are beautiful
You are powerful
You are capable of so many things
Unstoppable!
shawna ray, today
www.shawnaray.com

Keep it Open

Funny story that gave me the laugh I so desperately needed this past week...

So the chorus of the song to my children's book, "Take a Trip to Diverse City" goes, "Diverse City is a free state of heart and mind where all are welcome. Diverse City is a free state, so let's build a bridge and keep it open." In short, whenever I sign my book for kids I write, "Keep it open."

Last week I had a doctor's appointment with the gynecologist/urologist and somehow we got to talking about COSI, the local children's science museum in Columbus, Ohio. I said that I was just there reading and signing my book for opening day of the RACE exhibit. He said he goes there all the time with his kids and indicated that he'd like to see the book.

Being an "author" and "singer/songwriter" is new to me and I still work full time as a Public Relations coordinator of community engagement and empowerment programs through a local university. I am trying to get used to sharing the creative part of myself, but it is awkward at times. Another doctor asked for a book and had me sign it to his kids. It still feels strange that anyone would want my autograph. So as I was leaving this doctor's office, I grabbed a book out of my trunk, signed it and left it at the front desk for him to give to his kids.

This week, I was back to see the physical therapist at the same doctor's office and after our session she suggested I try these exercises to see if it helps my post childbirth lady part issues. I was trying to make light of the situation and said, "I will try to be open since that's my motto." She laughed and said, "Someone signed a letter to Dr. "Anonymous" saying "Keep it open" and he was baffled, asking staff, "How am I supposed to take this?"

I started laughing hysterically because I hadn't even thought of how "Keep it open" would come across to a gynecologist who had not read the book yet. "That was me!" I tried to explain the book through my laughter and how, "I sign it that way to help kids (and adults) remember to keep an open heart and mind to embrace and celebrate diversity. My first album is titled "Open" and I have a song titled "Open" that talks about being open to change. Maybe I should stop signing it that way because I don't want kids to keep it open in THAT way!" She said, "No, that's all good. I'm sorry if I mortified you." I thought it was hilarious.

The moral of the story is...Know your audience. "Keep it open" means something completely different to a gynecologist! The subject matter can have that effect on others for a variety of reasons. It comes down to your perspective and experience. We sometimes speak different languages, which can restrict understanding and connection. I hope that you will, "keep it (in this case your heart and mind) open." The "it" in another context might require careful consideration.

shawna ray, today 2/18/12

Healing

Healing
I am healing
Mind, body, spirit
Strengthening from within
As I am healing
Release worry
It's in your hands God
Take it from me
I am healing
Healing
Some are meant to plant the seed
Some work hard, they're watering
Some are light that's nourishing
The gardener prunes while redirecting
Healing
I am healing
Mind, body, spirit
Strengthening from within
As I am healing
Release worry
It's in your hands God
Take it from me
I am healing
Healing
As the sun brings in the day
Balancing our rest and play
Love is joy with pings of pain
Feeling life and energy
In healing
I am healing
Mind, body, spirit
Strengthening from within
As I am healing
Release worry
It's in your hands God
Take it from me
I am healing
Healing
Breathing in peace
Reviving dreams
I am healing

shawna ray, today 2/13/12
www.shawnaray.com

Dry Dreams

All these dry dreams
In the land of bent bones
Simple is kind to me
But there's a craving t in my soul
Thirsty dry dreams
Longing to lap it up
I don't know what awaits me
All I know is I've got to go
From this silence
Calling in the distance
Waking up I listen
To the song bird sing
I am streaming
But the outlets are dammed up
I don't know what awaits me
All I know is here I've become
A heap of dry dreams
In the land of bent bones
Simple is killing me
There's a craving in my soul
With thirsty dry dreams
Longing to lap it up
I don't know what awaits me
All I know is I've got to go
I've spent years in this resistance
Hiding far from your rejection
Dodging claims and criticism
I have tried and I have failed
Still the voice inside reminding
There is more that is in store
Art is quenching, I am drinking
Lips are thirsty for some more
Nectar for dry dreams
Healing for bent bones
Simple is not me
There is music in my soul
With thirsty dry dreams
Longing to lap it up
I don't know what awaits me
All I know is I've got to go

shawna ray, today 2/7/12
www.shawnaray.com

Shining a light on RACE

Interesting how the light spot went to the eye on the poster in this picture from my camera. Last Saturday, I shared my children's book at COSI for the opening of the exhibit RACE- Are We So Different? The information is powerful, geared mostly to older kids and adults.
It was a low key reading of "Take a Trip to Diverse City" with younger kids all around me in an area that COSI had added with puppets and books. I loved seeing all the beautiful children's faces and hearing touching stories in conversation with insightful parents. My vision is still to someday have a video camera with me to capture all of these stories and experiences around America and the world. The exhibit will be up at COSI until May 6th. Check it out!
It's been a journey. And each one of us has a footprint we leave behind. Open eyes allow light to shine through and guide our steps as we see things in perspective and continue to move forward.
Let's build a bridge and keep it open,
shawna ray